in: Orienteering; Gear & Toys;
| # Posted 2008-07-08 18:49:13 | |
| ccsteve: | When I've been using them and they get wet, mucky or muddy, I take the time to rinse them off immediately afterwards (swamp acids and all), but I've avoided sending my gaiters through the washer...
I always try to treat them as "hot" for poison ivy - simply because they are so likely to come in contact with the plants. Unfortunately, it looks like I "know" they are hot as one slid down my leg in my most recent event, and I've got a nice bloom of sores right below my knee... And since I pulled them back up at least once, it's probably that they are hot on the inside as well as the outside surface... And so, before I put them back on, I'd like to soak / launder / clean them very well ;-) Any advice on best practices to both remove the poison ivy oil and keep them in good shape? |
| # Posted 2008-07-08 18:55:09 | |
| jjcote: | Tecnu. |
| # Posted 2008-07-08 19:14:27 | |
| ONA: | This may sound obvious, but do not, under any circumstances, was your gaiters, pants, socks, etc. that came into contact with poison ivy or oak with your underwear! And, remember, those same oils are on your running shoes. I keep a bag of latex gloves in the car to put on and take off my shoes. 1 to 5 years is normal for urushiol oil to stay active on any surface. |
| # Posted 2008-07-08 20:14:14 | |
| iriharding: | I use a table spoonful of Tecnu in the washer with only the suspect poison ivy contaminated items. It works every time. |
| # Posted 2008-07-08 21:29:31 | |
| cedarcreek: | I just wash them normally. Is anyone aware of a case where a normal washing failed? |
| # Posted 2008-07-08 22:20:14 | |
| boyle: | As cedarcreek asks, does it even matter whether you wash in cold or hot water? |
| # Posted 2008-07-08 23:26:44 | |
| ONA: | If you've ever had a bad case of oak or ivy poisioning, you won't take any chances, believe me!!! Most of the literature says cold water is best, but there is so much anecdotal evidence out there, it's hard to tell. I use cold with the Technu added and that has worked in the past. Zanfel is another product I've tried and it works too but is much more expensive. |
| # Posted 2008-07-08 23:38:30 | |
| blegg: | I don't think cold/hot matters very much when washing cloths. A good soap or detergent is critical though, since the urushiol oil (the active ingrediant in poison oak and ivy) is not very water soluble.
When taking a shower, it's been suggested to start with cold water until you've thoroughly soaped and rinsed. The hot water can open your pores and let oil work in deeper. |
| # Posted 2008-07-08 23:40:16 | |
| chitownclark: | "...You're gonna need an ocean
Of calamine lotion You'll be scratching like a hound The minute...you start to mess around...." Having fought poison oak all the way through childhood in the 1950's in northern California, with nothing but calamine lotion, I find Technu so effective and revolutionary, I don't know why anyone worries about poison oak any more. I mean, I used to have to stay home from school for weeks covered with oozing sores...couldn't even walk. My face would swell up so that I couldn't open my eyes. I was very allergic. Now I run on any part of BAOC maps, right through thickets of poison oak. Afterward I rub down critical areas such as forearms, neck and pelvis with Technu, shower it off, and wash clothes normally. I seldom get the slightest blister, and certainly have never been reinfected by my washed clothing or shoes...the oil is on the leaves at waist level or above, not on the base of the plant where your shoes spend their time. If I do blister, I immediately vigorously rub in more Technu, breaking any blisters to make sure any urushiol oil is exposed to, and mixed with the Technu. Essentially you want to turn any itching blisters into minor skin abrasions that don't itch. If something still itches, you haven't been aggessive enough in your application of Technu. I do this several times over the first day...feels good! By the next day, whatever blisters and oozing that existed have dried up and scabbed over, and heal like any other minor skin abrasion. |
| # Posted 2008-07-08 23:59:53 | |
| toddp: | Yet another bit of anecdotal advice...
I heard that dish soap is better for cleaning clothes and skin because it cuts through the oil better. |
| # Posted 2008-07-09 04:44:19 | |
| GHOSlow: | I have been allergic to poison ivy since I was a teenager. As a adult I had a recurring case one entire winter. No sooner did I get rid of the rash but it would come back. I eventually realized that I was reinfecting myself every time I put on my hiking boots.
Twenty some years ago I was staying at a campground during a very hot multi-day meet that we were organizing. Although I was in ivy several times, I never got a rash. After talking to a chemist, we realized that I had oxidized the oil by swimming in the chlorinated pool every afternoon. I then started using a procedure that must be similar to the use of Technu. I haven't had trouble since. After being in contact with ivy, I wash thoroughly as soon as possible (a few hours delay seems ok). I then put a small amount of bleach on a wet facecloth and wipe it all over me, then rinse. Sometimes I repeat this the next day. I don't touch myclothes and gear again until my wife has washed everything with mild bleach. I used this procedure when I was controlling a meet that had a lot of poison ivy, some areas were chest-high. I was in the ivy for many hours each day. I just rubbed myself down with the facecloth with mild bleach part way through the day and I never developed a rash. The idea is wash off the oil as soon as possible and then oxidize any that remains. |
| # Posted 2008-07-09 17:40:17 | |
| ccsteve: | Thanks for the answers - and here I was worried that I had to find a safe way to clean the gaiters without damaging them - and nobody has mentioned that aspect of it;-) |
| # Posted 2008-07-09 18:33:23 | |
| cedarcreek: | Is the foam removable? I have VJs, and I just throw them in the washer. I know someone with Treklite (I think) who had a little trouble with bunching of the foam to the point he had to cut open the gaiters to reposition the foam. |
| # Posted 2008-07-09 20:43:18 | |
| ccsteve: | After sending them through the washer - why yes, the foam is removable, and they fell out;-)
That's ok, the foam came through just fine (tumble / front load washer, not an agitator) and could probably do with the cleaning as well though I will try to remember to remove them in the future. |
| # Posted 2008-07-10 18:24:33 | |
| Sswede: | I wash my VJ gaiters after every event (with all the other o-clothes) and line dry them. ( I do put the other clothes in the dryer to kill off any remaning ticks). Each pair I've had have held up for at least two years. I'm sensitive to poison ivy and oak but have never had a problem while orienteering. I've read that the surfactants in detergent remove organic oils and stains. Perhaps this is why I haven't gotten it yet. |
| # Posted 2008-07-10 19:08:01 | |
| JanetT: | I also wash my VJ gaiters (sport pro) in the washer and line dry them. The one thing to watch for is to not let them sit on light colored garments or the dye in the leather of the lace-through connection will bleed; I have a pair of light colored shorts that was in the same load that has dark spots on it now. This type is more likely to wear out from tears in the stretchy part than from laundering. |
| # Posted 2008-07-10 23:09:21 | |
| Ricka: | Showering and laundary (including shoes) have usually worked for me; but I will now try Technu as well. When I get the rash, Calydral Clear has been very effective in relieving the itch and the oozing. |
| # Posted 2008-07-11 01:07:52 | |
| bill_l: | Technu has worked great for me. Haven't had more than a couple of spots of PI Since I started using it 4 years ago. I use it for showering and on clothing after events. You can get 32 oz bottles online.
4 year old Treklite gaitors have been through the wash a bunch of times. The foam pad is removable in mine. |
| # Posted 2008-07-14 20:15:55 | |
| khall: | I wash my Trimtex and Silva gaitors every time I wear them to avoid PI, using cold water and normal laundry detergent. They still seem to last a long time, and I don't have re-infection problems. I also wash my hands with cold water and soap immediately after I tie my O shoes if at all possible. I use Ivy Block before and Tecnu after ... and Zanfel if I miss a spot and get a rash (pricey but it works). |
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